Pamela Ann Korinke

It is with a very heavy heart that we share that our beautiful mom, Pamela Korinke, has passed away.

In her final moments, she was surrounded by the people who loved her most. Her husband, Richard Korinke, and her daughters, Kim Korinke and Krista Korinke Young, were by her side, holding her hands as she peacefully passed. We are incredibly grateful that we were able to be together with her and surround her with love.

Pam was an amazing mom to Kim and Krista, a loving wife, and a truly extraordinary person who lived life with creativity, curiosity, adventure, and imagination.

Pam was the second youngest of five Barry Family children, growing up with two sisters and two brothers. She grew up in a family with deep ties to the San Jose community. Her father was a physician and co-founder of San Jose Hospital, where her mother also served as Head Nurse. The example of dedication and hard work that surrounded Pam growing up would become an important part of the woman she became.

Pam attended San Jose State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree with a focus on graphic arts and design. During her first year of college, she attended a dance where she met Richard, the man who would become her husband and with whom she would build a family and a lifetime of memories.

Pam was also remarkably determined. She continued her education while building her young family and completed her college degree while pregnant with her second daughter, Krista.

That determination carried into a successful career spanning more than 20 years in the mortgage industry. She began her career working for two title companies before becoming an Underwriter at Weyerhaeuser Mortgage. She later rose to executive leadership, serving as Vice President of Secondary Marketing at Primerit Bank and Kaufman & Broad.

Pam had a tremendous work ethic. She believed in working hard, persevering, and taking pride in what you did—qualities she not only demonstrated throughout her own life and career but also passed on to her daughters.

But there was so much more to Pam than her professional accomplishments.

She was a fantastic singer who could have given Lou Gramm a run for his money as the lead singer of Foreigner. She loved to dance, explore the beach, ride horses, and seek out new adventures. She was an imagination stimulator, always encouraging us to see possibilities, dream bigger, and look at the world in a different way.

Pam was also an exceptionally talented artist. Her artistic talent was evident from a very young age—at just 12 years old, Mom won a trip for two to New York for one of her paintings. That early recognition was just the beginning of a lifetime filled with creativity.

She had a special gift for pen and ink, painting, collage, and creating beautiful pieces with sea glass, shells, sea pottery, and other treasures. She could find beauty in the simplest things and transform them into something uniquely her own. Her creativity reflected the way she experienced the world—with wonder, imagination, and an appreciation for things others might overlook.

Pam also had a lifelong love of horses. Throughout her teenage years, she owned and rode her beloved horse, Fury. Those years with Fury created treasured memories and began a love of horses that stayed with Pam throughout her life.

Her love of horses never left her. As an adult, Pam had a special place in her heart for the free-roaming wild horses of Alberta, Canada. She frequently supported the Help Alberta Wildies Society and its work to protect and preserve these magnificent horses.

Pam was a dancer, beach explorer, horse lover, adventurer, artist, singer, adaptive driver, accomplished businesswoman, and dreamer. She found ways to keep experiencing life, adapting when necessary, and making the most of every adventure.

Most of all, she was our mom—and we were so incredibly lucky to have her.

Pam was deeply loved, and her absence leaves an enormous hole in our family and in our hearts. We will miss her more than words can express. But her laughter, her music, her art, her adventurous spirit, her imagination, her incredible work ethic, and the countless memories she created with us will remain forever.

In accordance with Pam’s wishes, there will be no funeral service.

For anyone who would like to honor Pam’s memory, in lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider making a donation to the Help Alberta Wildies Society to help protect the free-roaming wild horses she loved so much:

https://helpalbertawildiessociety.com/donate/#donate-form

Please share your favorite photos and memories of Pam here in the comments. We would love to remember and celebrate her through the stories and moments you shared with her.

We love you, Mom.

Your beautiful spirit and everything you created will always be a part of us. We carry you in our hearts.

Pam galloped away to heaven on Fury.